Ski binding



April 16, 1940c .G.RAULAS 2,197,010

SKI BINDING Filed Feb. 23, 1938 www@ ATTORNEYS Patented Ap r. 16, 1e40 ll l SKI BINDING Gerard Rauglas, Great K ills, 'N. Y Application February23, 1938,v vScrialNo. 191,858 fi 2 Claims. (CLf.28m-11.355,` jThis'invention relatesto improvements in ski of toe irons I2 positioned`adjacent the two sides bindings.L of the ski,-andja lfoot-plates whichaidsin 4In ski bindingsor ski. tiesl the toe irons may properly holding'the 4toeairons in position. The be-positioned at varyingdis'tances apartand at toe ironsfon the two rsides ofthe ski aremirror 5 differentangles `so as-to. t Shoes of different images of eachotherand'only oneneed be d e- 5 n sizes. The toe irons areadjusted to the proper scribed.lachigofl the toe;irons-,consists o f a relative positions to properly vfit the'shoes of the "horizontal portion I5,;an'd `a :vertical portion.IS wearer and: are then' more orv less permanently disposed atrightlanglestothe horizontal'portion.A

attached to the skis asbymeans of screws. It The'inner-'longitudinal`edge of each of the toe will be appreciated that considerablediiiicu-ltyis irons is ,preferably 'str-aight, while `the outer lon-1'0' encountered in properlyfpositioning the toe irons gitndi'naledgealong .which the "vertical portion f` so as to fit the shoe of-:thewearervbecause posi- I6 .is Iformed preferably-tapers inwardlyxffromtioningof'the toe irons must take placeprior to the rear to the frontofthe toe iron. The forthe time thatit'is iirmlyfattached to the ski.Vward 'andrearwardfedgesofthe-horizontal por- 16 Furtherdifliculty isencountered in securing the tion arenpreferably rounded or arcuateasshown 115e toe irons to the skis in the desired adjusted at lli-whichApermits of-fthefrockingor adjustpositions because inthe intervalbetween a'd-` ment 'of the-toeirons whenrtheyareassembled justing thetoe irons and securing them'to the beneath .the footplate, as willbemore fu11y skis it is difficult to prevent accidental shiftingdescribed.,` 1 -1 -20 or displacement. .'Toreceive'the screws orotherfastening means 20 It is a prime object of the invention to overtosecure thebinding tothe skiI provide a series come the above-outlineddifculties and to pro off'apertures in each iofuthetoeirons,`'preferably vide an improved ski b indingin which the toe three-:innumber.' I` .providet;the.,slotted irons can bereadilyandconvenientlvadjusted apertures I9 `and 20 adjacentI 'theforward and to the proper relative positions in 4a minimumrearward'edges respectivelyof'eachrtoe iron. 5 I 25f 'i amount of timeso as properly to iit the shoe have found that theI mostsatisfactoryresults of the wearer and can then be firmly secured to areobtained by making the slottedapertures I9 the ski withoutaccidental.displacementfor shiit-` and 2D parallel.y Intermediate theslots I9 and.` ing. y l 20 -I 'provide another slot 2I extending fromthe With these and vother `objects in mind refer# rinneredge fof the toeirons towards the center 30 ence shouldbe had to thel accompanying,draW-` thereof andpreferably Substantially parallel t0 ing in which: rslots I9 and 2ll.` 1I prefer `to make: the 'slot 2| Fig. 1` is 4a plan.'view partially broken away, slightly Wider vthan thev other two slotsand this of a ski binding embodying my invention, the ski slot need not`extend as far towards the. opposite binding being illustrated asattachedtov a ski; side ofthe toeironasthe slots I9 and 20'. 35

Fig, 2 is a sectional View in the direction of the f lThe surfacez'ofthe toey iron adjacent the slot arrows on the line 2 -2 of Fig.,1; .l 2Iis vpreferablysmooth as shown. To aid in t Fig. 3 is a sectional view inthe direction of the hold-ing thetoe irons in accurate,v adjustedposiarrows on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; tions however, 4the surfaceadjacent the slotsy -40 4 is a plan view of one of the toe irons; I9`and ZllisI serrated as shown at\.22, the serra.- 40

. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the 'tions being formed byaseries of parallel alter-4` `lock washers used in connection with myim- .nate ridges and-grooves which extend"generally` `1 proved skibinding. I .transversely ofthe slotsand'longitudinallyof thef 1 6 is asectional. view similar to Fig. 2, toejiron.4 1 f l y showing a modifiedtype o f Aski binding embody- The vertical portion I6 of each toe ironmay 4,5A

ing my invention; l be provided with suitablemeans such as the slot`Fig. 7 is a plan view'of a'portion of the modi- 23 and the bracket 24for receivingthe straps of. ed ski binding; and V i the binding.However, these formy no part of Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one ofthe my invention and other types 0f Strap2LSteriingv washers used in themodiiied type of ski binding. means may beemployed. 50 In theaccompanyingdrawing the numerallll jIn Fig .4 I show the toeironwhich isusedV designates a ski ofconventio'nal construction to en -the left side yof the ski. lneach binding va` which the skibinding I I is secured.pairpf toe bindings are employed, vthe other toe, Referring" to thefirst form of my invention iron, which is used on the right side is amirror plate I4 is then placed on top of the horizontalk Thefoot platei4 tape-rs from the rear to the forward portionthereof vas shown andtherear toe iron. i

In applying my binding to a ski a `pair of toe irons are placed oppositeeach other with the horizontal portions resting on the ski. The foot fportions of the toe ironsV as shown. The assernd andY screws.

` bled binding is then held in position by suitable fastening meanspreferably screws. AAs has been previously described, thev t'oe ironsare Yprovided rwith slotted openings I9, 20 and 2l which rei ceive thescrews. The foot plate :i4 is likewise formed with apertures to` receivethey washers Thus the toe plate is illustratedfas being provided with'six'apertures three on each l side of the longitudinal center' thereof,the Vforward apertures, whichV are positioned above the slots vI9 of thetwo ltoe irons being designated by. the numeraI 26, the centralapertureswhichr are positioned above the 'slotted openings 2l beingV designatedbythe numeral 21 andv the apertures at Athe rearofl the plate,-. whichare positionedabove the slots 2B, being designated by the numeral 28.The yopenings 26, 21 and 28 are somewhat wider than the slots I 9,- 20,and 2| and than. the vscrews which are employedto secure the bindingtothe skis'and they preferably taper from top to bottom and are providedwith,v down'- 351` l in Figs, 2 and 3.

wardl'y depending flangesas shown most clearly i and 28,;and washersareiemployed'around the heads of. the screws so as to prevent the screwsfrom passing through the openings, the washers preferably being'provided with tapered side walls corresponding to the taperingwalls ofthe` apertures. v

The washers that are employed in the forward and rearward apertures 26and 23 are indicated by the numeral 30 and shown `in..:detail in Fig.`5.

The under surfaces of the washers 3U are serrated, f

being provided with a series of parallel alternate engagement therewithwhen the washers are inserted in the apertures 26 and 28, as mostclearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will thusbe seen that v when the washersv 30are inserted in the apertures 2E and 28 so thatthe serrationson theunder surface of the washers and on the toe'irons form mating engagementand the screws 29 .are tightly s screwed into the skis the bindingwillfbe held -The screws, washers and apertures in the foot plate aresoy formed that when the parts are assembled as shown, the heads of theyscrews Yand the tops of the washers will be flush'with the upper surfaceof the foot plate so as to form a substantially smooth plane surface onthe top of the foot plate. The washers however, are vof greater lthickness than the foot plate sothat the lower tions of the toe irons.A

' engage the uppersuriacey of the horizontal perf.

At its forwardV and rearward edges, the foot yplate Hl is provided withdownwardly depending` nanges S4 which engage the surface'of the ski 1when the binding is assembled. The longitudinall edges of the plate maylikewise be provided with i flanges 35 which are smaller than theflangesil and only extend to theupper surfacefof the-horin zontalportions -of the toe irons.: y'

In assembling my improved 'ski bindingen a washers greatlyl facilitatecentering'the. binding on theski. A pair of toe irons l2 are thenplacedy in the proper' position on the skias:lshown, land,

the foot plate is positioned in superimposed rela-f tion. 'Ihe washers 30 areplaced inthe apertures 26 and zal and the washers '32arevplaee'd'in the ski the foot plate 'M rwith the washers disposed n ytherein may be used as a templet Atofproperly locate the holes forreceiving-the screws 29.`V In'` this Connection it will be seen that thefootv plate and 4 apertures 21. The screws 2S are then projected tatedso that the serrations- 3l' extend transversely of the'serrations 22 Ainthe' toe ironsso aste pre# vent theml iroi'ny forminfg'lmating''engagement therewith. y i

Due tothe fact that the screws in the'lapertures si are relatively tight.-theteeirons will .be v.held

relatively firmly. IIoweveryitA should( --be reineml l bered that theYunder surface of eaeh'of the wash- Screw's `of the type shown at i 29,having enlarged preferably tapered heads,

ers'3`2 is smooth and accordingly-the toe irons can be shifted towards.and away fi'om'eah other andv can ber'ooked or rotatedso as to adjustthem to the" proper width, 'the engagement l'ietween` the washers 32 andthe toe irons l2 being sufficient tok prevent accidental displacement'of' the` toe irons after they havebeen properlyadjusted and while v toeplate andthe washers v3l) are rotated so that ridges andgrooves.correspondingito. the serra: i tions 22 of the toe irons, soasto form mating the serrations 3| mate with the serratioii's 22 on thetoe irons. The 'screws l29 iii the apertures 26 l v and 23 arethenscrewed ytightly infpc'isitio'n.y It will be appreciated that duetoythe inter-engagementI between the s *errations on the washersl 330, andthe serrations on the toe irons, the ski binding will be rmly heldinjposition on the-"ski in the desired adjusted position and thetoeirons cannot be shifted or displaced without -first loosening thescrews-which extend thro-ugh the apertures 26 and 28.-*1V I" K Insteadof placing the screws y'29 and the wash-v ers Y35 inthe apertures '25and if'fprior tofadjustf" ing the toeiron's theseca'n bejomitteduntiltheadjustment has been completed.l Alf this proce-'-l dure is followed thenthe washersj32 are placed'in soL mi: l'

g5. KK

apertures 2l and the screws 'are drivenintothe ski relatively tightlyatfthesepositions; The-toe irons are then adjusted as'described above.When' they have been properly adjusted vthe washers 30 are placedjintheVl aperturesland 23v so vthat theA serrated lower: 'surf ace formsmating" engagement with the serrationsfn the toe irons. vThe screws 29extendingthroughwashersl3l0arethen and 2I so as to provide the necessaryclearance between the slots and the screws and permit rock-l ing orrotation ofthe toe irons when they are adjusted.

Referring now to the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 to 8inclusive it will be noted that it consists, as in the rst form of myinvention, of a pair of `toe-irons I2' and a superimposed foot plate I4'corresponding tothe toe-irons I2 and foot plate I4 in the iirst form ofmy invention. The toe-irons and foot plate are assembled in the samemanner and are of similar construction to those shown in the first formof my invention with the exception of the changes as hereinafter pointedout.

' The toe-irons I2 in the modiiied form oi my invention are identicalwith those shown in the first form with the exception that instead ofemploying the serrations as shown at 22, sawtoothed serrations 3G areemployed which face outwardly towards the two sides of the ski bindingas shown, so as to resist the outward pressure exertedby the boot orshoe of the wearer against the two sides of the toeirons. plate I4' inthe modified form of my invention is likewise similar to the foot platein the rst form of my invention with the exception that the openings 26and 28 formed therein adjacent the front and rear of the palte arereplaced with apertures which do not have downwardly extending anges asshown at 26', it being understood `that similar apertures 26' are formedat both the front and rear of the plate in positions corresponding tothe positions of the apertures 26 and 28 in the first form of myinvention. Central openings corresponding to and similar in constructionto the openings 21 are provided in the plate I4.

As in they rst form of my invention washers 32 having smooth lowersurfaces'are inserted in the central openings y21. In the opening 2B inthe modied form of my invention I employ washers differing from thewashers 3D of the i'lrst form of my invention as most clearly shown at31 in Figs. 6 and 8. These washersfare provided with central openings asshown, to receive the screws 29, and with a relatively large iiatportion 38 for engaging the under surface of the foot plate I4 aroundthe lment with the saw-toothed serrations 36 in the toe-irons, so as tofirmly resist outward shifting of the toe-irons when the device isassembled as shown in Fig. 6.

So as to facilitate assembling of the device I,

provide the washer with an -outwardly projecting wing 42 `which engageswith a lug 43, when the serrations 4I are disposed at right angles tothe serrations 36. When the saw-toothed serrations are in engagementwith each other the wing 42 and lug 43 are disposed at a 99 angle asshown most clearly in Fig. 7.

The modified form of my invention is assembled The foot inalsome'whatsimilar'manner to' the iirstv form of'myinvention'. Thus theplate I4 with the washers 31: 'and 32 disposed therein may be used as atemplet to properly position the binding in theiski. `,The'toe-irons arethen placed in proper position vbeneath the foot plate. Screws 29 areinserted through the washers and apertures into theskiand `thewashers 31are then turned in a counterclockwise direction until; the wings 42engage -:the lugs 43. and' the screws 29 are then tighten-ed so' thatthe washers 31 exert `a slight pressure on the toe-irons and so that thewashers 32 exert relatively strong pressure on the toeirons. It will beappreciated that the serrations 4I are then disposed at right angles ortransversely to the serrations 36 so as to permit of limited movementbetween the toe-irons and foot plate. The boot or shoe of the wearer isthen properly positioned in the binding and the` toeirons are adjustedas desired. The toe-irons can n be moved sideways and rocked tothedesired posi- After the boot or shoe has been removed the washers 31 areturned in' a clockwise direction until the saw-toothed serrations 4Iengage the saw-toothed serrations 3B. The screws 29 are then screwedtightly in position and it will be appreciated that the toe-irons willbe firmly held against accidental displacement. When the skis are in usethe boot or shoe of the wearer exerts outward pressure upon thetoe-irons I2. Due tothe saw-toothed serrations arranged as shown anddescribed, accidental shifting or displacement of the toe-irons will beeffectively prevented. It will be seen that both the kerf 40 andprojection 42 serve-as indicators to indicate visually and to the touchrespectively the rela.-

tive position of the serrations on the under surface of the Washer.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be appreciatedthat I have provided an improved ski binding in which the toe irons canbe readily and conveniently adjusted to the -desired relative positionsand then can be readily secured in position on the ski so as to be heldagainst accidental displacement. It should be understood thatmodifications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiment ofmy invention without departing from the invention as set forth in theaccompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A ski binding comprising a pair of toe-irons each having a verticalshoe engaging portion arranged in confronting relationship, and ahorizontal portion adapted to rest on the upper surface of the ski, thehorizontal portion of each toeiron being provided with elongated slotsto aid in attaching the toe-irons to the skis and the surface of thehorizontal portion being provided adjacent the slots withserrations; afoot plate positioned in superimposed relation over the horizontalportions of the toe-irons and formed with apertures positioned inregistry with the slots in l the toe-irons; washers positioned in theapertures in the foot plate having serrations on the lower surfacemating with the serrations on the toeirons and formed with an annularledge for engaging the under-surface of the foot plate; and fasteningmeans adapted to extend through the wkashers and slots for securing thebinding to a s 4 annoio 10 positioned in superimposed relation over thehorizontal portions of the toe-ironsjand formed with aperturespositioned lin registry with the slots in the toe-irons; washerspositioned in the apertures in the foot plate-having serrations matingwith the serrations on the toe-irons and formed with indicating` meansfor indicating the relative position of the serrations; and fasteningmeans adapted to extend through the washers and slots forsecuring thebinding to a ski.

GERARD RAUGLAS. f zo

